Jig-saw puzzles have always been a part of my life. From my earliest memories when the first serious flakes of snow started swirling, that was a call to the kitchen table to start on a jig-saw puzzle. My father owned a small business and he usually closed shop and joined us as well. And as the snow piled up, the kitchen noise grew! Dad commanded the bottom edge of the puzzle and Mother the top and we kids filled in. The family joke that resurfaced with every puzzle occasion centered in my brother's taking a bunch of pieces - over to the kitchen counter or somewhere, quietly working on his own, and suddenly he brought back a whole assembled portion! It was some historic scene puzzle that had an American flag waving proudly - and while it was a good-sized portion of the puzzle we always called the obvious, easy part of any puzzle "making flag" and of course scorned the achievement!
But what happens with putting puzzles together? A whole bunch of things! There are judgments concerning color, shape, size of course, but that's just the beginning. The assessing, rejecting, regrouping, organization - its all good for your brain! Especially your aging brain! Synapses cartwheels!
But beyond the mental gymnastics, the shared moments around the table shine with a quiet light.
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